Now that PvP trainer battles are available in Pokémon Go, many players are going up against their friends, family, and even strangers in their effort to become "the best there ever was." PvP is a new feature to Pokémon Go, though, so many players might need a little help in their journeys to fight their way to the top.
Pokémon Go took the world by storm when it released in 2016, quickly becoming one of the most beloved and biggest mobile games of all-time. The title uses augmented reality that allows players to explore their real-world environments with their smartphones, searching for Pokémon to pop up on their screens in order to capture them. A successful capture collects that Pokémon for the player. The game became so popular that it created stampedes at local parks, such as Central Park in New York. Players all over the world spent the first few months after its release in a daze, following their phone's screen in search of rare Pokémon they could add to their collection. But while a large portion of the player base has died down, that hasn't stopped the developers from continuing to update the game. And now that PvP trainer battles have been implemented, there's a whole new part of Pokémon Go for players to explore.
Related: How Trainer PvP Battles Work in Pokemon GO
Pokémon Go also allows players to battle for control of gyms in locations all over the world. Now, Pokémon Go lets players go up against other players in PvP battles, with the winners winning in-game rewards. After finding opponents, players can request a battle, but there are a few tips and tricks that will assure that battle will be won.
Practice with Team Leaders
One of the best ways to prepare for PvP battles is to train with the Team Leaders, and fortunately, that's something that players can do in Pokémon Go. Go to the battle menu and select one of the three team leaders: Blanche, Spark, or Candela. Players also need not worry about team affiliation because they can fight any leader they want. These battles grant daily rewards, so it's not just good practice, but also an easy way to get in-game goodies. It does seem that Team Leaders never use Protect Shields, unlike opponents in real PvP battle, but getting some practice in with your team before going into the real world to fight makes sense.
Understand the enemy and what types you're fighting
One of the key points to understand in Pokémon Go PvP is what types of Pokémon your team will be fighting. Although it might be impossible to put together a team of Pokémon to cover all of the weaknesses of the opponent's creatures, you can cover those weaknesses pretty well just by understanding what they are and choosing your team with that in mind. Also, don't double up on the same types of Pokémon in battle: use different types so that you can cover a variety of attacks against your Pokémon, as well as deliver a variety of blows. The key is to think outside the box and get creative to put together a team that can handle almost anything, as well as dish it out.
Use shield sparingly
It might make sense to use the shield for each incoming attack, and the game will prompt the player to use it each time, too, by putting a big button on the screen that is easy to hit, especially during fast attacks. But there is something fundamental to remember about shields in Pokémon PvP battles: each player can only use a shield twice during a battle. That means that if a player uses the shield for the first two attacks that come in, shields can no longer be used, opening those Pokémon up to more damage. So keep that in mind and use the shield sparingly. Hang on to it until it is absolutely needed.
Use Charge Moves
When attacking, the player uses something called a Quick Move. But continuing to use Quick Moves builds up a gauge that will eventually allow a Charge Move. Once that comes up, select it and start tapping the screen as fast as possible to mete out the most damage. A really good Charge Move can take out an opponent's hit points by more than half. The trick is to know how to surprise the opponent with it so they never see it coming. There is also no set time for how quickly a Charge Move activates: some activate faster than others. Players can buy additional charge moves with Candy and Stardust.
Taking damage does not gain energy
There are some key differences between how Pokémon Go PvP trainer battles work, as compared to how Gym and Raid battles work. One difference is with energy. In Gym and Raid battles, taking damage results in energy. That is not the case, though, with PvP. In PvP, the only way to get energy is by using Quick Moves. This means that you can't build up to Charge Moves just by taking damage. So remember to keep using those Quick Moves and tap that screen as fast as humanly possible. Charge Moves can help win the battle and getting them is essential.
Switch out Pokémon for more Charge Moves
Charge Moves are vital in defeating opponents quickly, and with extra Charge Moves costing Candy and Stardust, there has to be a better way to get more Charge Moves during a battle, right? Here's an important fact: switching out Pokémon in the middle of a fight does not delete their Charge Move gauge progress. So the best way to unleash surprise Charge Moves is to switch quickly to a Pokémon whose gauge is almost full and then send that creature's full fury on the enemy. After 60 seconds, you can switch out Pokémon again, so do so and unleash another Charge Move attack.
Understand that moves are different in PvP
Moves are different in Pokémon Go PvP battles than they are in Gym or Raid battles. Quick Moves use turns, which last half a second. This keeps PvP battles running smoothly. The game updates Pokémon HP after each turn. This slight difference might not seem like a big deal, but it will affect how quickly Charge Moves activate, as well as how trainer battles play out. There is even the possibility of both players losing a battle if they both defeat their Pokémon at the same time, as actions that happen on the same turn occur simultaneously. Understanding how this works could mean the difference between winning and losing.